NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CorkRules launched today on iOS as the first digital wine experience aimed at making it easier for consumers to navigate the restaurant wine list. Through the CorkRules app, consumers can easily find the perfect wine for every occasion based on their preferences, connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try, and learn more about the world of wine. Users will get personalized wine recommendations at thousands of restaurants, making what can often be an overwhelming experience an easier one. CorkRules is available now for free on Apple iOS devices in the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1631528589">App store</a>.

The CorkRules app is designed to help consumers feel more confident and comfortable ordering wine in restaurants. In a recent survey conducted by the company, only 9% of respondents indicated feeling confident when making a wine selection or purchase. And only 23% considered themselves knowledgeable on wine. &ldquo;Ordering wine at restaurants can be intimidating and complex, even for me as a wine enthusiast,&rdquo; says Founder Robert Tas, who has spent his career focused on building consumer experiences through digital platforms. &ldquo;I created CorkRules to make it easier for people to find and drink what they love.&rdquo;

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Key features of the app include: 

Personalized Wine Recommendations from Thousands of Restaurants: The CorkRules database includes wine lists from restaurants across the United States, and the team is actively expanding the database to include more restaurants every day.

Wines Tailored to Each User: Special Occasion? On a budget? Love Bordeaux? CorkRules provides users with expert wine recommendations tailored to their preferences in just a few taps.

Social feed: CorkRules users can keep up with friends and wine experts too, including certified sommeliers through the CorkRules feed, built with social media like features including the ability to post, like, comment and share updates pre, during and post a dining and wine experience. This will allow users to keep up on restaurant trends and discover new wines.

Connect with Friends: CorkRules provides the ability for users to &ldquo;Friendsource&rdquo; trusted wine recommendations by discovering wines friends have rated, reviewed or shared like to expand their wine choices CorkRules is built using proprietary technology leveraging machine learning to surface personalized and tailored recommendations, and leans on a team of wine experts, sommeliers and restaurateurs to advise on ongoing development. For a complete list of wine experts and CorkRules sommeliers, visit CorkRules.

Wine sales in general are lagging among younger consumers. And restaurants, especially, have seen the impact, with a 2022 wine sales growth rate at 9.6 percent, down from growth of 18.2 percent in 2021. Tas is looking to address that &ndash; both making diners feel more comfortable purchasing wine in restaurants through technology and in enabling restaurants to sell more wine from their inventory. The hope is that this app will enhance the beverage team in the restaurant, will provide conversation starters at the table and will allow restaurateurs to manage their inventory.

&ldquo;You shouldn&rsquo;t need a PHD to order a bottle of wine at a restaurant. This app will allow consumers to understand value, quickly discover what they love, and find recommendations based on what they have enjoyed in the past,&rdquo; Tas added.

CorkRules is also committed to expanding wine education through easy-to-digest articles and helpful wine tips in partnership with wine experts, including content on understanding wine varietals, quick tips for picking wines by occasion and cuisine, and basics of pairing, and will add features about wine, such as understanding wine varietals, quick tips for picking wines by occasion and cuisine. The company introduced a podcast, The CorkRules Podcast, in 2022 featuring wine experts making suggestions from wine lists at top restaurants around the country.

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ABOUT CORKRULES: CorkRules is the first digital wine experience aimed at making it easier to navigate the restaurant wine list by providing consumers with personalized wine recommendations. Launched in February 2023, the CorkRules app gives consumers personalized wine recommendations for every occasion at thousands of restaurants across the United States based on a user&#39;s wine preferences, expert opinions and friends&rsquo; reviews. Available for download now on Apple iOS devices. To learn more, visit CorkRules.com.

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Media Contact: Lori Lefevre Wells, lori@lorilefevre.com

New mobile app provides personalized wine recommendations at thousands of restaurants around the country.

CorkRules Launches on iOS, Making it Easier for Consumers to Navigate the Restaurant Wine List with Confidence

Syrah and Shiraz. Two different names for the same grape variety, but also the name of two different styles of wine. Originally from France but spread around the world today, it has found its own identity in regions far away from the original origin.

The black grape Syrah comes from the French Rhône valley and it’s still very much planted there. Here, it’s the only variety used in Hermitage and Cornas, and also used in blends with other local grapes in areas like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône to mention a few. The grape name won’t appear on the label though since in France, and in Europe in general, the origin is of more importance than the grape variety.

Decoding the wine label: Syrah or Shiraz?

Champagne, the obvious choice for celebrations or holidays in any form for many wine drinkers. Since it’s a fantastic, artisan beverage, why change the tradition? With the holidays coming up, choose to pour something extra special this year – the millésime style champagne.

Decoding the wine label: Millésime

Bordeaux is a name synonymous with some of the world's most prestigious red wines, but its white wines, particularly Bordeaux Blanc, often fly under the radar. While the reds of this region have garnered international fame, Bordeaux Blanc wines, crafted primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes, are some of the wine world's best-kept secrets. These wines offer an elegant balance of freshness, complexity, and aging potential that can rival the finest whites from anywhere in the world.

Bordeaux Blanc: An Underappreciated Gem of the Wine World

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, our palates yearn for refreshing beverages that embody the essence of summer. For those new to the world of wine, choosing between cider, orange wine, and rosé can be a delightful journey. Each offers unique flavors and experiences perfect for warm weather sipping. In this article, we’ll explore three standout choices: Wolffer Dry Cider No. 139, Cune Viña Rosado 2023, and Spiritus Terrae Malvasia Orange 2021.

Savoring Summer: The Best Rosé Drink Choices from Cider-Orange-Rosé for Beginners

Navigating the wine list at a restaurant can be a daunting task, as many wine lovers have experienced. In our previous article on the tension of ordering wine at restaurants, we discussed this issue and shared some tips to help ease the process. However, one CorkRules user has recently encountered a situation that highlights just how challenging it can be.

The Switch? – #restaurantfail #winelistfail

Memorial Day weekend signals the official kick-off to summer, and what better way to celebrate than a backyard barbecue with friends and family? But for the wine lovers out there, the usual pairing of burgers and beer can feel a little, well, uninspired.

Fear not, fellow geeks! Let's ditch the predictable and dive into three exciting wine options that will have you sipping and savoring alongside the sizzling BBQ.

Memorial Day BBQ Bash: 3 Wines to Geek Out Over (While Grilling)

What is the right price for a bottle of wine at a restaurant? Wine pricing at restaurants is a hot topic of late but has many complexities. Let's dig into it and better understand the issues and some potential solutions.

The tension around wine pricing at restaurants?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a name that resonates with prestige and quality in the world of wine. This illustrious appellation is steeped in history dating back centuries and has been producing some of France's most celebrated wines for generations.



Nestled within the southern region of Rhône Valley, France lies Châteauneuf-du-Pape - translated as "the Pope's new castle". The area earned its moniker during the 14th century when it served as a summer residence for Popes who sought refuge from political turmoil in Rome.

The Rich History of Châteauneuf-du-Pape highlighting some great value wines

In the world of wine and food, we often find ourselves ensnared by ratings, stars, points – an endless parade of numbers that dictate our choices. We chase after high-rated wines or Michelin-starred restaurants with fervor only to be met with experiences that seldom live up to their lofty reputations. But amidst this whirlwind pursuit for perfection lies a simple truth - what truly makes wine and food special are not scores or accolades but pure experiences crafted from love.

The Serendipity of Experiences in Wine and Food

Foreign Cinema

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Foreign Cinema, a vibrant location in San Francisco

Wine Review of Foreign Cinema, San Francisco

Grant Wood

Foreign Cinema

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier.

Hello Grant, great to have you back for another great wine list.

GW: Hello Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

Foreign Cinema

Here we have a one-of-a-kind, nationally acclaimed restaurant combing indie films with California-Mediterranean cooking located in the Mission. This is a very popular restaurant with great cocktails and a wonderful wine list as well. Let&rsquo;s dive in!

Let&rsquo;s start with bubbles! Right away, I like that they&rsquo;ve highlighted a section of their favorites so I&rsquo;d go for the Domaine Vouette et Sorbee extra brut &lsquo;blanc d&rsquo;Argile&rsquo; from the Cote des bar in the south of Champagne. You can&rsquo;t go wrong with Ulysse Collin extra brut BdN &lsquo;Les Maillons Congy, Cote Sezannais of course and I like the Egly-Ouriet Brut rose grand cru from Ambonnay if you want something pink!

Moving to lighter whites, the 2016 Dom Albert Boxler &lsquo;Dudenstein Sommerberg Riesling grand cru from Alsace is one of my favorites which is fresh, high acid, mineral-driven Riesling to pair with the oysters on their menu. Something fun from the Jura is the Dom Du Pelican Savagnin Ouillee from Arbois is a great choice as well. Moving over to the Loire, I like the 2017 Nicolas Joly &lsquo;Les Vieux Clos&rsquo; from Savennieres and is a leader in Biodynamics.

Stepping things up a bit if you want to splurge and impress your guests the you can&rsquo;t go wrong with the 2016 Coche-Dury Bourgogne which has all of the classic reductive and mineral characteristics that they&rsquo;re known for. A great value on here moving south into the Rhone, I love the 2016 Yves Cuilleron Roussanne, Vin des Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes which is a great producer that makes some of my favorite whites in the Rhone. Another great value is the 2019 Clos Sainte Magdeleine from Cassis in Provence. There are a lot of great Italian and Spanish whites on here as well so don&rsquo;t pass up on those either.

Let&rsquo;s move on to reds now. There&rsquo;s a great selection of red Burgundy but let&rsquo;s look at their other great reds on here for the sake of diversity. The 2018 Agostino Pavia &amp; Figli, Grignolino d&rsquo;Asti is a really fun and easy value wine to consider. I know you like your Barolo, Robert, so I&rsquo;s go for the 2011 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva, Vignolo would be a stellar wine to go with. I also love the 2012 Padelletti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva which is classic Brunello that never disappoints.

If you want to stick to some California favorites, then I&rsquo;d go for the 07&rsquo; Cain Five from Spring Mountain or even the 2014 Forman Cabernet if you want Napa Cabernet. The 2019 A. Rafanelli Dry Creek Zinfandel warms the soul for me and is a classic for Dry Creek. I also love the 2016 Cruse Wine Co. Heintz Vineyard Syrah which is peppery and floral. If you&rsquo;re feeling weird you should try the 2017 Forlorn Hope Mondeuse from the Rorick Vineyard in Calaveras County. Lastly, the 2019 Jolie-Laide Gamay Noir from El Dorado County is a really fun and food-friendly wine for a dinner at Foreign Cinema.

I think this is a really cool and friendly wine list that is meant to warm the soul and spice on your movie nights with great food and great wine.

Cheers!

Grant, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Foreign Cinema&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try your great suggestions.&nbsp; &nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like Grant to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@CorkRules.com">Info@CorkRules.com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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Bright, family-run eatery with outdoor seats & a bar plating pizza, pasta & Italian entrees.

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Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

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